Fumi Nagasaka PHOTOGRAPHER

Fumi Nagasaka's work has a bluntness to it. Perhaps this is to do with her love for Rock and sometimes grittier side of music in general. On her site you can find edge, but also a softness in her work. The site is well organized and I am loving that she uses her inspirations so well in her photos. I'm loving the Fleetwood Mac inspired spread so much (picture above featured). Her work can be found in many magazines including Dazed and Confused. You can check out her blog, too. There you will find more of a "behind the scenes" feel and a look at Fumi's world.

Fumi Nagasaka ONLINE HERE

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in NYLON GUYS

The September issue of Nylon Guys is jammed packed, like usual, with great looks, clothes, and cultural tidbits. It is sporting a slightly new look, too. On the cover is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He is featured in an article where he discusses what he thinks of fame, but more importantly, his newest work in 500 Days of Summer and GI Joe. Gordon-Levitt does not want to come off as self-important and even compares acting with prostitution.

BERLIN, the city, is featured. These days, it seems as if the German City is destination number one for creatives and outliers. Burlesque Dancer Miss Marz Star says about BERLIN, "[It's] like New York was 30 years ago."

ALSO IN are plenty of interesting creatives/artists/designers.

ON STANDS NOW

Current Issue of DAZEDandCONFUSED

The August Issue of DAZED features a look into the movie industry in Africa, specifically Nigeria. NOLLYWOOD is allegedly the 3rd largest movie industry in the world. It's an industry unto itself minus the exploitation that takes place with films that are shot in Africa by folks from abroad. The movies of NOLLYWOOD are made by and feature local talent. Themes are those apart of Nigerian culture: from folklore to very modern issues. They have a distinct flavor. Photographer Pieter Hugo, with the help of local makeup artist Gabazzini Zuo, embarked on a project creating vibrant images to help showcase some of that flavor.

Dazed article by Federica Angelucci

CLICK HERE for DAZED

ALSO IN: Hal Hartley Boxset, "Dogging: A love Story," and a look at Tantric Sex in Sweden

Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch in PASTE

Paste Magazine has a nice article about Belle and Sebastian frontman, Stuart Murdoch, in the issue on stands now. It's actually apart of Paste's International Issue #2 (the first out after devoted readers helped to save the mag from financial collapse). Anytime is a good time to peer into the life of Glasgow Scotland's best known music man. And, the article takes readers on a ride from Glasgow, to the countryside, to Murdoch's own church. The frontman talks about his latest project, "God Help the Girl." He decided to make a movie, but before filming a single scene he has produced a soundtrack. Unorthodox, perhaps, but fans won't mind. We can only hope that the movie will turn out as good as the music which features fellow Belle cohorts and vocals from several female vocalists. Best quote from the article (Scotland Bard: Stuart Murdoch Finds Inspiration in Glasgow, Girl Groups and God by Nick Marino for Paste Magazine): Murdoch trying to calm the nerves of his wife says, "What's somebody going to do, beat me to death with their knitting needles?"

Read Article: Stuart Murdoch in Paste Magazine

ALSO IN: Album reviews featuring Regina Spektor and Moby. Movie review of 500 Days of Summer. Meet artists from around the globe including 4 from Iceland. Funny homage to the eccentrics of Bjork.

PASTE, Online Here

J.A. Daye: Designer in Hong Kong

www.jadaye.com

J.A. Daye is a designer located in Hong Kong. He moved there about 3 years ago from NYC. The website is worth checking out for more than just fashion. It gives great insight on the most interesting parts of Hong Kong. You can download a guide on the city from the "about" page. The site is very fresh. Daye, himself, poses for pictures wearing his designs, taken at various spots around Hong Kong.

Daye wants to provide a more tailored option for guys. A nicely tailored suit, shirt, or pair of slacks can truly set you apart from the rest of the men in the room. Daye's clothes are tailored in Hong Kong, but you can watch videos on his site that explain how to properly measure yourself (Daye recommends having a friend to help, a glass of wine, and the measuring tape, of course) so you can input those measurements into a personal account, created right on the site, and wait for your personally fitted garment(s) to arrive. The designs have a classic feel but with a modern edge. The colors and materials are also unique; coming from a wide range of places including Japan and China. Prices are very reasonable.

J.A. Daye, his business, and website are a real example of a new-wave global business. It has an international feel but delivered with local (in this case Hong Kong) flavor.

The Sounds "Beat Box"

I can't speak enough about this band. The Sounds have been around for awhile, but they still haven't had the mainstream success that they deserve. However, that means nothing to me as long as they are able to continue as a band for sometime longer. They make some of the best party music out there and they put on great shows. I have had the pleasure of seeing them live many times. The Sounds are currently on tour with No Doubt as well as playing some shows in Europe before returning to the USA to embark on their own headlining tour. It should not be missed. The video is a clip of "Beat Box" performed during a show with No Doubt in California. It looks to be a fan clip, but I tend to like to no gloss quality.

www.the-sounds.com

"Fear of Flying" by Erica Jong

This is a good read. It moves quickly and there are moments of humor and sexual mindgames to keep you turning the page. It is somewhat of a travel novel, too.

The book printing that I have is older with very small type that takes up the entire page. From an aesthetic standpoint: the cover is a bit questionable, too. But with this being an old book, those issues are beside the point.

There is humor here no matter how self-depreciating it sometimes becomes. There are many famous names, ideas, and passages used throughout the novel. The main character, Isodora, drops these intellectualisms at a steady frequency as if to demonstrate her breathe of knowledge. The character is written as such that you can't help but think it is a very close self-depiction by author Erica Jong. Of course, I could be completely wrong. The education that our protagonist holds is a hindrance as much as it is an asset. At moments she is completely confident in her brilliance and at other moments she tends to resent her education entirely. Points in the novel demonstrate how great knowledge can sometimes drive a person to the depths of human despair. It is also evident how using ones knowledge to self-evaluate your mental state can prove lethal. Isodora is a mixed-up character, literally and metaphorically, who seems to relish in the effect.

I have heard that this book is supposed to be a statement on female sexuality. I hardly found it sexy in the narrowest view. But, in a broader view of sex and the female state, it is quite sexy in a realistic way. In many instances, what you think is going to lead into a passage about great sex actually implodes with no sex happening between characters at all. There seems to be more written about when libidos fail or when even good sex is missing a much wanted, possibly needed, extra something. There is a sleazy, dull, or unfulfilling aspect to many of the scenes that Isodora finds herself in sexually. The sexiest moment in the novel is when readers are presented with the idea of the "zipless fuck." We are given a story to show how such a rendezvous works. However, the bliss and freedom that makes a "zipless fuck" what it is never materializes for Isodora. I suppose that is the main statement of the book.

中野正貴 MASATAKA NAKANO
http://www.artunlimited.co.jp/nakano/

Photography books can be quite expensive despite being well worth the cost (if you are fortunate enough to have it). That is why it is great to find sites that give you a look inside a book of photos for free. One such site is home to a sample series of works by photographer Masataka Nakano (link above: you do not need to hit the english button to navigate and will see more of the site by not hitting it). There are several books featured on the site. The title with the greatest popularity is most likely "Tokyo Nobody," the first book Nakano had published. In it, the great city of Tokyo is photographed minus a certain, almost vital, part of any functioning city: People. The book took about 10 years to complete and for good reason. The series of photos were taken predominately during Japanese New Year Observations when most city dwellers return to the country side to be with family. This fleeing, in turn, leaves the streets of Tokyo relatively vacant.

The absence of people gives the cityscapes an naked feeling. The newly exposed structures take center stage and to fantastic effect. As inhabitants take a break from the city, the city enjoys a break from it's inhabitants. What is most enjoyable about looking at Nakano's work in "Tokyo Nobody" is observing streets, buildings, alleys, parks, and getting a sense of the uniqueness and presence that the structures have. They live, even without a human presence.

Another great Nakano book to check out is "Tokyo Windows." Again, you get to see parts of the city (even if you have visited Tokyo before) that you have never seen before. What is unique is that Nakano sets up each photo from the vantage point of looking out from a window onto the scene beyond. By doing so, you can better understand how a neighborhood and surrounding aspects can be very strong contributors to a person's state of mind. Many of the photos have a slight voyeuristic feel to them. One photo taken from the office overlooking the Mori Tower in Roppongi. In it, you can even get a glimpse of a random picture laying on the desk. Looking out onto the cityscape left me feeling as if I were there, standing over my desk, ready to escape the office and be taken in by the living, breathing, city before me.